Campbellford Memorial Hospital has announced it is temporarily closing its emergency department overnight, from 6:30 p.m. on Thursday (August 25) until 7:30 a.m. on Friday, due to an unexpected nursing staff shortage.
In a media release, the hospital states it has implemented a contingency plan “to ensure the impact to patient care is as minimal as possible.”
EMS and other emergency services are aware of the temporary closure, the hospital states, and ambulances will take patients directly to the closest area hospital that offers emergency medical services.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the implications of the shortage of health human resources throughout the province,” says Eric Hanna, the hospital’s president and CEO, adding the hospital is “continuously re-evaluating our strategies to recruit and retain members of our team during these challenging times.”
The hospital says area residents requiring emergency health care treatment during the closure should call 9-1-1, and those with urgent health care treatment should go to other hospitals in the region, which include Northumberland Hills Hospital in Cobourg, Trenton Memorial Hospital, Belleville General Hospital, or Peterborough Regional Health Centre.
